Filed under: SUVs, GMC, Pontiac
REPORT: 2009 GMC Terrain to replace Pontiac Torrent in US
by Alex Nunez on Dec 16th 2007 at 3:56PM 
Click image to enlarge
UPDATE: The 2009 GMC Terrain will be a new, Jeep Liberty-sized vehicle and not the Middle East version with the same name shown above. Details here.
With the Torrent dropped from Pontiac's long-term plans as the brand returns its focus to performance-oriented cars, GM appears to already know how and where it'll replace the small crossover. The answer was apparently unveiled back in November when GMC introduced the Terrain in Kuwait. Like the Saturn Vue, the GMC Terrain is essentially a badge-engineered Opel Antara; and it's reportedly coming to the US, according to an Automotive News report that's set to hit the wires tomorrow. Due as a 2009 model, the Terrain will be GMC's first foray into the compact
[Source: All Cars All The Time]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Phillip 4:09PM (12/16/2007)
"Due as a 2009 model, the Terrain will be GMC's first foray into the compact SUV segment."
So what do you call the S15 Jimmy? It was by all means, a compact SUV. On a compact truck frame to boot.
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Alex Nunez 4:18PM (12/16/2007)
Yeah, you're right. I should have called it a CUV, since that's what the thing really is (by the current standard, at least). SUV, CUV, SAV, SAC...the alphabet soup is officially ridiculous regarding what all would have simply been called SUVs before it stopped being PC.
Phillip 4:43PM (12/16/2007)
I agree about all the acronyms. It's crazy these days.
geo.stewart 5:53PM (12/16/2007)
and why isnt the crossover called a XUV and the compact called the CUV, the SUV could be a F/UV and ...
or better yet, call the XUV a jacked up station wagon and anything with 4WD and truck-level towing capability and SUV and be done with it.
3cubed minus 3squared plus1 4:19PM (12/16/2007)
I hope it doesn't end up looking like that.
Its basically a re-badged Vue, and I thought GM was straying away from re-badges.
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AfterGasoline 4:28PM (12/16/2007)
I agree; they have been doing much better lately, and doing this would just be their old way of doing things.
Moe 4:26PM (12/16/2007)
Since GMC's whole brand image is centered around the "Professional Grade" slogan, I can't see a cute-ute fitting in very well. They should've just dropped the Torrent altogether, and replaced the Equinox with the Captiva.
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psarhjinian 8:38PM (12/16/2007)
They have to keep the dealers happy, I'm guessing. I don't know about other regions, but here, Pontiac and GMC are paired and the dealerships would be crying to head office if GM dropped a model.
Personally, I think GM could fix a lot of it's model line problems if it allowed franchisees to buy any Pontiac (or Saturn--pick one and kill the other), Buick, Chevy or GMC model and made Cadillac, Saab and the Corvette premium franchises.
Alpha 4:37PM (12/16/2007)
Nah! I think this is just for the ME. GMC's popular over there. I think GMC in the US might get a TE car in a few years, if Buick doesn't get a baby-Enclave.
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Chris 4:39PM (12/16/2007)
Well, whatever the case, I like GM's strategy of putting Pontiac, GMC, and Buick all in the same dealers. It allows Pontiac to focus on performance. Pontiac shouldn't have an SUV. Frankly, neither should Buick, but if the Enclave sells, then so be it, right?
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iSpec 4:44PM (12/16/2007)
Does a rebadged Daewoo count as not rebadging?
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Rayjht 5:04PM (12/16/2007)
Sure it doesn't. I realize you were trying to be funny but the Captiva was styled by Daewoo for Chevy but the Antara\Vue was Opel designed down to the structure that Daewoo used but when the product is in different markets it does not matter. Also a CUV is car based so a Jimmy which is truck based does no count. Theta is a variant of the Elipson platform so the article is right. I sat in the new Vue redline and man it is very premium now. I guess GM needs to shore up the sales while people get use to Saturn going up market. However just as some of you said they better change it more and not pull an old GM. Oh and GM please replace the Equinox with the Captiva.
J.Crew 9:29PM (12/16/2007)
I guess a Toyota Camry makes a good rebadged Lexus ES as well...
far jr 5:08PM (12/16/2007)
This doesn't look bad. It is actually better looking IMO than the Saturn VUE, plus GM will reach more people with through GMC dealers than saturn dealers. Look at Acadia vs. Outlook.
The Chevy Captiva version isn't bad looking either. It does however have much in common with the VUE and this GMC Terrain in the looks department. I hope they keep the seven seat version when it comes to the US.
Where will production take place? Beside the VUE in Mexico? Or will the Equinox/Torrent plant be re-tooled?
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Dusty 5:33PM (12/16/2007)
Word around my neck of the woods (Southern Ontario) is it'll be built at the Cami plant that currently builds the Equinox/Torrent in Ingersoll. Last week they talked about laying off a few hundred workers to retool the plant for an upcoming vehicle which would be announced at a later date. I would assume its this CUV.
BGJ 5:29PM (12/16/2007)
The Torrent will be replaced by a GMC model. But it will not be the one pictured.
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J.Crew 9:46PM (12/16/2007)
I believe what you are saying. This version would be a total rebadge and would face harsh criticism. What they are saying may be true that Pontiac is losing the Torrent and GMC is getting the replacement, they did not say it was this overseas version. It appears there is still some speculation at this point as nothing has been formally announced.
Larry 5:41PM (12/16/2007)
"She's the clone; no, She is !"
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why not the LS2LS7? 6:10PM (12/16/2007)
What about the Vibe?
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far jr 7:41PM (12/16/2007)
I guess the Vibe is still considered a car with Pontiac the same as Toyota who lumps Matrix sales in with the Corolla. It would make sense for Vibe to leave Pontiac in the next re-do. But where would it go? Will Chevy get the next version? I cannot see GM just walking away from it's investment in NUMMI.